Method and apparatus for casting ingots



May 22, 1928. 1,670,329

E. c. WASHBURN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING INGOTS Filed March 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H0 17 1 Z. /jL

I/v VEN 70R,

May 22, 1928.

E; C. WASHBURN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CASTING INGOTS Filed March 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented. May 22, 1928 UNITED STATES nnwm c. wssnnumr, or anomwoon, new JERSEY.

amnion" nu) arrmrus'roa oasrmo moors.

. Application fled Inch 28,1928. Serial No. 97,701.

This invention relates to an ingot and particularly a method of casting a'steel ingot so that a more perfect ing'ot is formed and one having a larger percentage of usable material.

In casting steel ingots it has been the common practice to pour the same into a tapered mold. The ingots coolin the molds and are afterwards ejected therefrom. As the metal of the ingot cools the impurities are preci itated, and tend to rise to the top. As t e I ingot is of smaller cross section adjacent its top, the metal naturally tendsto cool quicker at this portion and articularly at the corl5 ners of the ingot. 11 account of this cooling or freezing of the metal the impurities often do not have a chance to rise to the top of the ingot ,and a certain part of the ingot,

therefore, is unusable. If the ingot is kept an in a hot condition at thejtop for a longer period, an ingot is formed having purer metal adjacentthe top thereof and also one havinga piping of lesser length.

' It is an objectof this invention, therefore, to provide a method in which the base of the ingot is cooled before-the top of the. ingot.

It is a further object of the invention to rovide a method of casting an ingot whereiiy a cooling medium is applied to'the base of the mold and ingot and the heat at the top of the ingot is conserved.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a method of casting and handling aningot which consists in cooling the base of the ingot and conserving. the heat at the upper portion thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method of castingan ingot in which the base of the ingot is cooled and the 4s heat from the'ingot is circulated about the upper portion of the ingot, particularly at the corners thereof. p

it is still further an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for at casting and handling an ingot by means of which the mold and ingot has cooling medium applied to the lower portion thereof and the heat at the top portion of the ingot is confined circulated about the said top ta portion.

Theserand other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with. the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same" parts throughout the different views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in central verticalsection through an ingot mold and apparatus used therewith; A v

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken at right angles tovFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a section through the apparatus and ingot mold showing amodified form of the invention;

Pg. 5 is a vertical section. taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,.as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view partly'in vertical section and partly in side elevation of another form of apparatus used; and

'.Fig. 7 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of still another form of apparatus. J

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs, 1, 2 and 3, an ingot mold 10 is shown of the usual tapered shape, which mold is shown as having a separate base member 11 on which it rests The base member 11 is illustrated as supported upon a plurality of transverse beams 12 extendin between the sides 13 of a pit or sewer 13, illustratedas being formed of brickwork on masonry. A casing 14 is provided shaped in outline similar to the ingot mold 10 and tapered at substantially the same taper as said mold, said casing having flanges 14 at its-base adapted to'rest upon the Wallsl3. The casing 14 has openings or slots 14" through its sides adjacent its bottom and said casing, as shown, is open at its top and terminates quite a distance below the top of the mold g 10. Another casing or hood 15 is also shown as having an; outline similar to that of the mold 10 and illustrated as substantially square and said casing has, projecting from its inner top wall, downwardly extending 100 lugs 1'5 disposed intermediate its corners and adapted to rest on top of the mold 10, said lugs being shown as having a width or thickness substantially equal to that of the wall of the mold 10. The hood 15 also has 106 lugs 15 at its lower end and disposed between its corners extending inwardly so as substantially to contact with the sides of the mold 10. The casing is provided with a loop or handle 15 by means of which it can be manipulated and placed in position.

In the operation of the apparatus shown A in Figs. 1 to 3, the metal will be poured into the mold 10 in the usual way, the mold at this time being disposed in the casing 14. After the metal is poured into the ingot the hood 15 will be placed down over the top thereof. Air will be forced through the sewer or pit 13 and will rise between the members 12 and into the lower end of the casing 14. This air, which will be cool, will pass around the lower portion of the mold 10 and tend to cool the same. Air will also be drawn into the opening or slots 14", due to the rising current of air between the mold and casing14, and this air, together with the air blown through the casing, will pass out at the top of the casing 14. This air circulating about the lower portion of the mold will cool said ortion. The heat at the to of the ingot Wlll be confined and conserve by the hood 15. This heat will pass out of the top of the mold between the lugs 15 and around the corners of the mold and will radiate out at the bottom of the hood 15 between the lugs 15. The lugs 15 and 15", therefore, operate to circulate the heat about the corners of the mold and prevent the rapid cooling of said corners. The heat is conserved about the entire top portion of the mold and the cooling of-this "portion of the mold is-greatly retarded.

The heat from the ingot will be absorbed by the lugs 15 and be thus conserved or retained at this ortion of the mold and ingot, these lugs eing of quite heavy dimension. The impurities rising in the mold will, therefore, have a chance to reach a very high point therein and the top portion of the mold. will not cool ahead of the base portion, as in the methods heretofore used. A much better disposition is thus made of the impurities and a much better cooling effect and arrangement of the metal is secured. A much improved ingot is produced and one which will not have. to have such a large portion of its end cut off and discarded, as heretofore.

Another apparatus which can be used to carry out the method of this invention is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In these figures, the molds 10 are shown as carried on the base members 11 and the members 11 are illustrated as disposed on the top of a truck 16 having the wheels 17 running on the track 18. The track 18 runs through a tunnel 19 and the top of this tunnel has a chamber-19 formed by the inwardly projecting walls 19 having the end portions 19. A passage or duct 19 is formed at one side of the chamber 19 connected to said chamber by spaced passages 19. With the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the ingot will be poured, as usual, and the truck 16 then run into the tunnel 19 into the position shown where the same, with the molds thereon, will be allowed to stand for a certain length of time. The tunnel 19 has a larger cross sectional area 'at the bottom of the mold so that this ortion can readily cool. The top portion of the mold, however, will have the heat thereof confined in the chamber 19, and the heat at this portion of the mold will be conserved and the cooling of -the mold and ingot retarded. The air in also shown as disposed upon a truck 16 and the mold is disposed in a casing 20 which will be similar in outline to the mold 10. The casing 20 has slots 20 adjacent its lower-end and extending through the sides thereof and has other slots 20 somewhat adjacent its upper end.' Above the slots 20" the casin has thicker walls 20 forming a contracte chamber at its. upper end. A cover 21 is provided adapted to rest on top of the casing 20, which cover has a downwardly extending flange and is also provided with a manipulating lug or handle 21.

In carr dug out the method with the apparatus siown in Fi J 7, the mold will be poured while disposed in the casing 20 and the cover 21 will then be placed on top of the same. Air will be drawn into the cusing 20through the lower openings 20 and will pass out through the upper openings 20". The lower portion of the mold will thus have cool air'circulating thereahout and will be cooled comparatively rapidly. The heat in the upper portion of the mold 10 will be conserved by being surrounded by the thick walls 20 and confined in the reduced chamber between said walls and said heat will have to radiate out downward- 1y, as shown. The cooling of the upper portion-,of the mold will thus be "rcatly rctarded and the lower portion 0? the mold will thus be cooled first.

In Fig. 6 another apparatus is shown for carrying out the method and in this figure a mold is shown comprising the separable sections 22 and 23. Each of these sections is tapered toward one end and the sections are connected at their larger ends where they are of similar shape and size. In practice,

Lamaze suitable connecting or clamping means, not shown, will be provided for the sect-ions22 and 23; A casing 24 is provided having a base portion 24 adapted to receive and hold the lower end of the lower section 23. The casing 24 will be shaped in outline similar to the mold sections 22 and 23 and the same is shown as provided with vertically spaced slots '24:" which'are disposed adjacent the center of said casing, said slots extending through the sides of the casing between the corners thereof. The casing 24 extends above the top of the mold section 22 and a cover 25 is provided adapted to rest on top of said casing and havinga depending flange surrounding the same. The cover 25 is shown as having a loop or handle 25 for manipulating the same.

In the use of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, the metalwill be poured into the mold comprising sections 22 and 23 while said mold is in the casing 24 and the cover 25 will then be applied. The surrounding air. will circulate through the casing 24 through the openings 24 and the lower portion of the mold will be cooled. The cooling at the lower portion of the mold up to substantially the center thereof will be quite uniform. The heat, however, at the upper portion of the mold will be confined in the casing 24 and conserved and the cooling of this portion of the mold and ingot will be greatly retarded. The mold having the taper toward both ends produces a very efficient ingot, as the various constituents of the metal tend to rise in the mass of molten metal immediately after pouring and are not retarded by the converging walls at the lower portion of the ingot and an ingot having very pure metal is thus produced. Furthermore, the great bulk of metal is atjthe middle of the mold and this portion will be kept fluid so that the impurities will have an opportunity to segregate and rise. There will thus not be as much cooling of the metal at the walls and there will be less probability of transverse cracks appearing in the cooled ingot.

It has been found by examination of in-' gots that transverse cracks are often present therein midway of the length of the ingot. These cracks are often due to the'metal cooling at the wall of the mold and a crystallizing effect extending inwardly of the mold from the cooled portion at the wall. By providing the extra section of metal at the center of the mold, as shown in Fig. 6, there is less cooling tendency and less opportunity for the cracks to reach any appreciable distance into the body of the ingot.

When the mold used to cast ingots is new, the interior surface thereof is quite smooth. After these molds have been used a few times however, the surface becomes scored and pitted, due to the extraction of the ingot from the mold and the handling thereof. These scores and pits in the surface of the mold tend to cause a crystallizing action of the metal extending outward into the mold therefrom. The pits or depressions often locate an axis ofcrystallization. This roughening therefore of the surface of the mold thus tends to produce cracks in the ingot. It is within the scope of the present invention, therefore, to smooth out the surface of the molds by any suitable means before the metal is poured thereinto.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and improved method and apparatus for casting an ingot and producing an improved product.

The apparatus used is quite simpleand entails little trouble or expense in its application, and the casting of the ingots can be performed substantially as rapidly as hereto- .fore. The method constitutesquite an ad-.

vance in the art and results in a much more useful and efficient ingot.

It will, of course, be understood, that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the novel steps, and parts and combinations thereof disclosed anddefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of casting ingots which consists in pouring an ingot into a mold, directing cool air against the bottom and lower portion of the sides of the mold to cool the lower portion thereof and retarding the cooling of the upper portion of said ingot.

2. The method of casting an ingot which consists in pouring the same into a mold, applying cool air to the lower portionof the mold about the periphery thereof to cool the lower portion thereof and ap lying heat to the upper portion of said mold and ingot.

3. Anapparatus for use in cooling an in got having in combination, an ingot mold, means for directing cool air against the bottom and side portions thereof. to hasten the cooling of the lower portion of. the ingot, and means for applying the heat from the ingot to the top portion of the mold to retard the cooling ofthe top portion of the ingot. i

4. An apparatus for use in cooling an ingot having in combination, an ingot mold, a chamber surrounding the lower portion thereof, means for directing a'cooling medium into said chamber, and means for applying heat to the upper portion of said mold.

5. An apparatus for use in cooling an ingot having in combination, an ingot mold, a chamber surrounding the lower portion thereof, means for directing a cooling me- 8. An apparatus for casting an ingot comprising a mold tapered from substantially its central portion toward both ends and having a pair of sections separable at the center of said mold.

9. An apparatus for use in casting an, ingot comprising a mold, a casing surrounding .and spaced from the lower portion of the mold,-and a hood surrounding and spaced from the top portion of the mold and havin its lower portion spaced from the top 0? said casing.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, said hood having lugsdepending from its inner top portion between the corners thereof adapted to rest 'on top of the mold between the corners of the mold to circulate the heat at the corners of said mold.

11. A method of casting an ingot, which consists in pouring the metal therefor into a mold, coolin the lower portion of the mold at all sides t iereof and circulating a heated medium about the upper portlon of said mold.

12. The combination withvan ingot mold, of means disposed at the top of the mold having a chamber incommunication with thetop of said ingot and having passages for circulating-the heat of the ingot about I the sides of the mold.

13. The combination with an ingot mold, of means having aportion engaging the top of the mold, a portion extending over the top of said mold and a portion catemling.

about the sides of said mold adjacent the top thereof and spaced therefrom, said portion engaging the top of the mold having passages therethrough into the space between said latter portion and the mold whereby a'cii'culation of heat from the top of the ingot is provided about the upper portion of the mold.

14. The combination with an ingot mold of a member extending over the top of said mold and means of comparatively heavy dimension enga ing the mold adjacent the top thereof to a sorb and conserve the heat of said-ingot.

15.'An apparatus for use in cooling an ingot having in combination, an ingot mold, a casing havin a chamber embracing the top of said-mo d, and means for directing air into said chamber to be heated by the heat in said chamber, and means for conducting the said air from said chamber for 16. An apparatus for cooling an ingot comprising a mold into which the ingot is poured, a member surrounding the top of said mold having walls spaced from'the sides thereof to form a chamber about the top of said mold, said chamber opening to the atmosphere at its bottom and. having spaced openings at its upper portion comllllll'llilltlllg with the top of said ingot.

l7. Anvapparatus for use in casting an ingot comprising means for supporting an ingot mold, means for applying cool air to the bottom of said mold to cool said ingot at its lower portion, and means for applying heat to the top portion of said mold to conserve the heat. in the ingot at the top thereof.

18. An apparatus for use in casting an ingot having in combination, an ingot mold, spaced means supporting said mold, and means for directing cool air between said means against the lower portion of said mold .to cool the lower portion of saidingot.

19. An apparatus for handling ingots having in combination, a mold in which the ingot is poured, a chamber in which said mold is confined, and means for conveying the heat from said ingot away from said chamber for use.

In testimon whereof I afiix mfisignature.

EDWIN U. WAS BURN. 

